The European Broadcasting Union, the consortium of public-service broadcasters, has renewed its European rights distribution deal with event organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) for the Critérium du Dauphiné cycling race.
The agreement for the event, which takes place in France every June, will run for three years, from 2013 to 2015.
French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions will provide the international signal covering the event, the union said.
The union already distributes rights in Europe for the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flèche Wallonne, Paris-Tours, Paris-Nice, Critérium International and Tour de l’Avenir cycling races, which are also organised by ASO.
“Cycling is an important element of our sports rights portfolio, and a sport that deserves maximum reach,” the union’s director of sports and business, Stefan Kuerten, said.
ASO director general Yann Le Moenner added: “Thanks to the EBU, the Critérium du Dauphiné, a veritable dress rehearsal for the Tour de France, will continue to enjoy widespread exposure throughout Europe, providing viewers with a foretaste of the major events in July.”